CANYON, TEXAS – Lion women's basketball (9-6 overall; 3-2 in LSC) is back on the road after a four-game home-stand with a stiff test in store, as they travel to the Panhandle to take on the No. 10 ranked team in the country, West Texas A&M (13-2 overall; 4-1 in LSC).
 
The two teams have gone at it since the 1975-76 season, compiling 55 games in the 40-year span. Having won the first thirty games spanning from 1975 to 2000, WT has controlled the series decisively, with a 50-5 all-time record against A&M-Commerce. On Saturday, first year head coach Jason Burton will try and lead the Lions to their third win in Canyon in school history, the previous two occasions being in 2001 and 2005. Fans can tune in live at both 88.9 KETR and 107.1 Thunder Country.
 
A&M-Commerce is fresh off a 70-62 win over Eastern New Mexico. Junior guard Gabby Scott hit a career-high in scoring, dropping 18 on the Zias just four days after putting up 17 against McMurry. Not to be outdone, senior forward Abigail Leaupepe-Tele also recorded a career high four steals in only 16 minutes of play. That doubled her previous high of two.
 
Two-time LSC Player of the Week La'Tisha Hearne climbed back to prominence with her fourth double-double of the year against ENMU. The ten point, 13 rebound performance was her first double-double in six weeks, he last coming in the 62-55 overtime win against Rogers State back on December 6.
 
The Lions backcourt features senior Ashlee Johnson and freshman Princess Davis, the top two dime-getters in the conference with 4.4 and 3.7 assists per game respectively. Additionally, Johnson stands fifth overall in the conference in steals with 1.7 per game, while Davis is second overall in the LSC in minutes per game at 32.5 MPG.
 
The Lady Buffs come off an extraordinary 2013-14 campaign in which they went 32-3 overall, nearly winning the NCAA Tournament outright. WT advanced to the National Championship game in Erie, Pennsylvania before falling just short to the No. 1 ranked Bentley Falcons 73-65. Now, at 13-2 on the season, second year coach Mark Kellogg looks to return his squad to last year's glory.
 
West Texas A&M enjoys the services of senior forward Chontiquah White, who places second in the conference in scoring (16.9 PPG), field goal percentage (56.1 percent) and rebounding (8.5 RPG). Meanwhile, sophomore guard Sasha Watson is the most efficient shooter in the LSC at 59.7 percent, the third most prolific passer with 3.7 APG, and the best at racking up steals by a wide margin with 3.3 SPG. As a team, the Lady Buffs rank first overall in scoring (77.8 PPG), field goal percentage (48.4 percent), assists (17.3) and steals (11.6). The Lions' two big statistical advantages are in blocks and rebounds, but they'll have to be wary, as West Texas A&M also is the best team in the conference at limiting their opponents' rebounds.
 
Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday, January 24 at 2 p.m. in the First United Bank Center on the campus of West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas. After that, the Lions will stay on the road, with a trip to Denton to take on the Texas Woman's Pioneers (12-6 overall; 5-2 in LSC).